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Thursday, September 16, 2010

So where are you on cleaning? Our main level: kitchen, living room, dining room, master bath, master bedroom and powder room are ready. I still have the upstairs (3 bedrooms and a bath) and the downstairs (family room and a bathroom) to do.

Are you working on your crafts? I have been making my annual cork ornaments. These are used for gifts so I can't show you this year's one but here are some photos from the years past:

circa 2000... these are simply bundles of three corks glued together and tied with a ribbon. The tiny ornaments are hot glued on top. The one on the left is the one I kept for my kitchen tree!

2002... these cute reindeer were hot glued together with some ribbon, pompoms and twigs glued on in strategic places!

This elegant ornament uses old earrings as the dangling piece at the bottom.

I am constantly looking for ideas for wine corks. We enjoy wine quite a bit and love using the corks in crafts!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Every year I try something new and this year will be no exception. These cake pops look adorable! (photo from Bakerella)
To make these delicious little gems, first you make a cake mix according to the package directions. Bake it in a 9 by 13 pan. Cool the cake, then process it in the food processor until it is crumbly. Stir in 3/4 of a container of premade frosting and then roll into balls. Place on waxed paper on a cookie sheet and then refrigerate until firm. Melt dipping chocolate and pick up a cake ball. Put a dab of melted chocolate on the flat side of the ball, and push the stick in. This give the ball something to stick to. Dip the ball into the melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles or like the cute reindeer, immediately. Stick the cakepops into a sheet of styrofoam to cool. Wrap up in cellophane bags and tie up with a cute ribbon or a tag!

Monday, September 6, 2010

When I am out and about I always look for a little Christmas. It might be a corner of a store, or someone who inadvertently left a Christmas decoration out... but who knew when I was in Kansas City (MO) this weekend I would see this:

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

I have my Christmas Notebook out and am ready to start adding pages for the 2010 year. I have started my Christmas Gift Buying Page (I already have several gifts purchased) and have scheduled our Christmas card photo session. I love our photo cards and part of the fun of the Christmas Notebook is to see how everyone has changed over the years.

Lots of people ask about my Christmas Notebook. I did a post that will explain the general organization of it here. For me, though, the most fun is looking through the notebook each year, reading our past Christmas letters, seeing our photo cards and looking at my thoughts from the end of the holiday as to what I want to change for this year.

My Christmas Notebook is not fancy. One day I would like to preserve it so that it is a piece that is handed down through the generations. It does do the job of keeping things together!

Layer ingredients, in order listed, into (4 quart or larger) crockpot. Turn the pot on low and cover with a lid. After two hours, remove lid and stir to combine. Replace lid and check again in 30 minutes. When all ingredients are melted, stir to combine. Ladle spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Allow to sit up - 1 hour.Thanks, Aunt Patsy!

My Must Try for This Year!!

Easy Fudge

1 bag chocolate chips

1 can sweetened condensed milk

4 T butter

1 t vanilla

1/2 t salt

Microwave butter, chips and milk, in 30 second intervals, stirring between timings. When all is melted stir in vanilla and salt. Stir well. Pour into a foil lined and buttered 8 by 8" pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove from pan, remove foil. Cut into 1" pieces.